Method of mining coal



April 3, 1934. E. c. MORGAN 1,953,326

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Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT 4OFFICE METHOD OF MINING COALOriginal application June 23, 1913, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 4, 1931, Serial No. 520,071

42 Claims.

This application is a division of the co-pending application Serial No.775,173, filed June 23, 1913.

This invention relates to method of and appamore particularly to such asare characterized by the cutting of a plurality of kerfs for the purposeof enabling the coal or other materials to be removed in blocks ofsubstantially regular and uniform masses.

One of the objects of the invention is to generally improve and simplifythe mining of coal or other materials and to generally simplify andimprove the apparatus for carrying on such methods.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a general view in sideelevation of a mining machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 1EL represents a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partlyin central vertical section, of Fig. 1 to show the pivotal connectionbetween the turntable and the truck;

Fig. 2 is a general top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 2 to show the powertransmission between the motor and the main frame and the advancing andretracting beam;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation View of a cutting mechanism or cutterbar embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of th cutting mechanism on theline 3*'1--3a of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 of themechanism for transmitting power to the cutting mechanism and foractuating the cutting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism for retaining thecontrol levers in their various positions;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in side elevation similar to thecorresponding portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, but illustratinga modified construction.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1, similar to Fig.5 but showing the details of the modif-led construction illustrated inlFigs. 8 and 9;

Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views illus- 60 trating a method ofmining coal;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which thepresent mining machine may be employed for cutting kerfs in the coal;

Fig. 15 is a View similar to Fig. 14 showing the vertical kerf cut bythe present machine;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view in section showing a number of verticalkerfs angularly disposed with relation to each other and cut in themanner shown in Figs. 14 and 15; and

Figs. 17 to 24, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating severalmodifications of the present method of mining.

In mining various materials, and particularly coal, it is extremelydesirable and important that the coal be mined with as little waste aspossible and that it be mined in large regularly shaped blocks or massesso that it may be conveniently handled, not only in removing it from themine but for shipping it and transporting it. The desirability andadvantage of taking coal out of the mines in as large blocks as possibleis apparent when it is realized that the transportation of coal is notonly greatly facilitated by the ease and convenience with which thelarge blocks may be packed for shipment in the cars, but because of thefact that large unbroken masses of pal retain their efciency much longerthan lcoal which is broken into relatively small particles when exposedto the influences of the weather. In the drawings, and particularly inFigs. 12, 13, and 17 to 22, inclusive, there is diagrammaticallyillustrated the improved method of mining coal by which all of theseadvantages are obtained. Fig. 13 illustrates diagrammatically alongitudinal vertical section through a vein of coal, and Fig. 12diagrammatically illustrates the forward end of the vein, that is, theend of the vein at which the mining operations take place.

In carrying out the improved method it is preferred, first, to make aplurality of vertical parallel cuts or kerfs X which preferably extendin vertical planes from the lower faces Xl of the vein to the upperfaces X thereof. That is, vertical kerfs or cuts extend between what isgenerally known as the points of cleavage between the stratum or vein ofcoal and the earth or ground, between which the vein of coal isconfined. These cuts or kerfs X are preferably as thin as possible so asto avoid any more coal cuttings than is necessary, and they extendlongitudinally into the vein at a distance which is found suitable oradvisable under the particular circumstances and requirements. The kerfsX are likewise spaced apart at such distances as found to be bestadapted to the particular conditions and requirements. There are alsomade a plurality of long horizontal kerfs X3, X31 preferably extendingfrom one side of the vein of coal to the other side thereof so as todivide the vein into a plurality of large blocks X4, X5, X6. Thesehorizontal kerfs, as shown in Fig. 13, lie in planes which are disposedat an angle to the longitudinal axis of the vein. They preferably beginat points X7, X11 below or above the longitudinal center of the vein andextend angularly upwardly and downwardly from said respective pointspreferably to the roof and floor of the mine entry, although it has beenfound that these horizontal kerfs need not extend all of the way to theroof or oor of the mine entry under certain circumstances. For instance,ln Figs. 17 and 18, it will be noted that the horizontal kerfs X3, whichincline upwardly toward the roof of the mine entry, may terminate shortof the roof and leave an uncut portion X3 which must be broken whenblocks of coal are dislodged, while the kerfs X31, which inclinedownwardly toward the floor of the entry, may, if desired, extend allthe way to the oor or line of cleavage. These uncut portions X3,however, are preferably not sufllciently thick to prevent blocks of coalbeing readily dislodged or broken away after the kerfs are cut.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 18, the series of horizontal kerfs X3 arepreferably parallel with respect to each other, and likewise the seriesof horizontal kerfs X31 lie in planes parallel with respect to eachother. In consequence there are left uncut portions X10 and X11 betweensaid kerfs along the lines of cleavage both at the roof and floor of themine, and after the kerfs have been .made these blocks may be dislodgedor broken away from these lines of cleavage in any suitable manner underthe particular circumstances or they may be severed by horizontal kerfs.

In practice, it is preferable to make a series of vvertical kerfs rstand after these vertical kerfs are cut then cut the horizontal kerfsbecause it can readily be seen that if the horizontal kerfs X3 were madefirst there would be a large mass or long slab of coal suspended fromthe roof of the mine which, under the conditions in some mines, would belikely to fall owing to the fact that the adhesion of the slab of coalto the roof of the mine along the cleavage line X10 would not besuflicient to support the slab of coal. Often this is true even when thevertical kerfs are made rst and the horizontal kerfs afterward but insuch cases, as the horizontal kerf advances across the vein intersectingthe vertical kerfs and forming the complete blocks X4, it is preferredto jack up or support the blocks X4 until the horizontal kerfs arecompleted clear across the vein.

Any suitable means for supporting these cut blocks may be employed,such, for instance, as jacks X13 of the character illustrated in Figs.12 and 13. These jacks are provided with broad bases X13 and withstandards which are inclined substantially parallel to the planes of thehorizontal kerfs, and the heads X1*1 of these jacks are formed assupporting members, as shown in Fig. 13, for engagement with the lowercorners of the blocks. These jacks are preferably provided for eachblock X4 of coal as the block is cut and when the complete series ofblocks have been formed the jacks may then be removed and the blocksallowed to drop or be dislodged for removal from the mine.

The advantage of supporting the blocksX'l in position until all of themhave been cut is that the machine, if the machine is used, which cutsthe kerfs may be moved out of the Way in order to permit the convenientremoval of the blocks. The cutting of the horizontal kerfs X3 and X31 ispreferably done alternately with respect to each other. That is to say,after the vertical kerfs are cut a horizontal upwardly inclined cut X3is cut. Then the blocks X4 may be dislodged and removed from the mineentry, thus leaving the face of the coal clear so that the nexthorizontal cut X31 which begins at point X13 and inclines downwardly,may be cut, thus leaving the lower blocks X5 in condition to be brokenalong the lower cleavage X11 and removed from the mine.

It has not been found necessary to support the lower blocks X5 by meansof jacks or otherwise, because they are -resting upon the oor of themine. so to speak,and there is not the tendency for them to fall away orbreak along their lines of cleavage without the aid of a slightadditional dislodging force being applied to them. Of course, thevertical kerfs X should be made deep enough in advance of the cutting ofthe horizontal kerfs so that the blocks will be cut on all sides exceptalong the lines of cleavage and at the portions X9 (Fig. 18) when thekerfs X3 are not extended all the way to the roof of the mine. It is tobe understood, however, that the horizontal kerfs may be made before thevertical kerfs because in some mines there is found no tendency of theslabs of coal to fall of their own weight, but this, of course, is to bedetermined by the conditions in the particular mine in which the coal isbeing cut. Figs. 20 and 22 diagrammatically illustrate a modification inthe angular relations of the cuts. In these figures it will be noticedthat the horizontal kerfs X3 and X31 begin at points X15 above and belowthe longitudinal center of the vein; that is to say, the cuts X3 and X31are disposed entirely above and below the longitudinal center of themine respectively. It will also be noted that these kerfs X3 and X31 donot incline at as great an angle with respect to the longitudinal axisof the mine as they do in Fig. 13. In consequence, it follows thatcenter blocks X16 `are cut on all sides except for a small portion X17at the ends of the blocks which must be broken to dislodge the blocks,but, of course, this portion X1l should not be of suflicient thicknessto prevent the blocks being readily broken by relatively slight force.In Fig. 20 the horizontal cuts X3 and X31 do not reach entirely to thelines of the cleavage as is the case with the kerfs X31 of Fig. 18, butas shown in Fig. 22, these cuts may extend entirely to the line ofcleavage, if desired. In Fig. 22 it will be noticed that the centerblocks are completely cut on all sides; that is to say, the kerfs X3 andX31 are extended into the center blocks X16 until they intersect or meetat the point X13, thereby making complete cuts on all sides of theblocks. Figs. 23 and 24 are diagrammatic views illustrating the presentimproved method wherein is cut a plurality of horizontal parallel kerfsX19. These kerfs lie in planes spaced apart but substantially parallelwith the longitudinal center of the vein. Any number of these kerfs maybe cut, depending, of course, upon the size of the vein and theparticular operat- Y considerable amount of cuttings.

ing conditions, although in the drawings there is illustrated only threehorizontal kerfs, one being located at the upper line of cleavage of thevein, another being located at the lower line of cleavage and a thirdsubstantially in the center of the vein. There is also cut a pluralityof preferably parallel upright kerfs X2o extending longitudinally intothe vein and intersecting the horizontal kerfs X19 so as to cut theblocks of coal on all sides except at their inner end portions X21,which portions are left uncut. Under ordinary circumstances these uncutportions X21 will be'broken by the weight of the blocks themselves andthe blocks will drop one upon the other in stacks, so to speak. In theevent that the conditions in the particular mine are such that the uncutportions will not be broken by the' weight of the blocks themselves,then they may be broken in a suitable manner by applying a suitableforce thereto to break along the uncut positions. It will be noted thatthe upright kerfs X20 are inclined at a small angle with respect to avertical line, and the object in doing this is to facilitate the cuttingof the kerfs by mining machines. By inclining the upright kerfs to asmall degree it will be noted that the breaking of the uncut portionsX21 by the weight of the blocks and the dropping of the blocks will notinterfere in any way with the cutting mechanism of the mining machine.In other words, the blocks will drop directly away from thecuttingmechanism and allow the cutting mechanism to be withdrawn after thekerfs are made. In the method shown in Figs. 23 and 24, the horlzontalkerfs X19 are preferably cut first and then the upright kerfs are cutone by one in sequence beginning with the right-hand kerf X211 andproceeding with the cutting of these kerfs entirely across the end ofthe vein.

In Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, vthere is shown a mining machine by meansof which the cutting of the various kerfs at the various angles as abovedescribed, may be readily and conveniently accomplished.

In the structure which is shown in the drawings, it is preferable to usea at elongated cutting bar or cutting mechanism A, shown best in Figs.1, 2 and 3 and in detail in Figs. 3 and 32, because it is therebyenabled to cut comparatively thin kerfs or cuts without producing anyThe details of the present preferred cutting mechanism structure will bedescribed hereinafter. It is sufcient at this time to say that thecutting mechanism is in the form of a long at comparatively thinstructure having a cuttingchain B traveling preferably in one directionaround its lperiphery so as to form a peripheral edge, so to speak. Thiscutter bar is preferably comparatively narrow in width and is preferablymade of such length as to meet the desired requirements as to depth ofcut, etc. This cutter bar or cutting mechanism is mounted and arrangedso that it may be bodily shifted or positioned so as not only to presentit edgewise and enter it at any angle with respect to the material to becut, but it may also be rotated bodily in such adjusted position so asto rotate it bodily in either direction in such adjusted position sothat it may sweep through a large area in a given plane. There will nowproceed, therefore, .a description of a mechanism by which thesepositions and cuttingmovements are brought about.

The entire machine is preferably mounted upon'a wheeled truck C, thewheels 1 of, which are preferably mounted upon suitable axles 2 andadapted to run on rails 3 laid along the floor of the mine or entry orother line of movement along which the machine is to operate. The rails3 are preferably supported by metal ties 4 transversely arranged atintervals and having upturned ends 5. The rails are laid lon the tiesadjacent the upturned ends 5 of the ties and are prevented fromspreading or shifting by means of blocks 6 disposed between the railsand the upturned ends of the ties and by means of spikes or othersuitable fastening devices 7 arranged to engage the base of the rails,as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. The truck is shown as having alarge flat platform or table 8 upon which the mining machine is mounted.

This truck platform has a large depending socket or dish-shapeddepression 9. l Above the platform, and preferably disposed parallelwith respect thereto is a large circular table or platform 10 whichserves as a table and which has a central vertically disposed shaft orbearing member 11 (Fig. l) rotatably sunk into the socket or bearingmember 9 of the truck platform, whereby the turntable 10 may be rotatedabout the vertical axis of its shaft or pivot member 11. The entiremining machine is preferably mounted upon or supported by this turntableso that it may be bodily swung or rotated about a vertical axis toposition the cutting mechanism with respect to the material to be cut.

It is preferred that the turntable with the mining machine mountedthereon shall be capable of bodily vertical adjustment, and for thispurpose any suitable mechanism may be provided. In the drawings (Figs. 1and 4) there is illustrated a screw member 12 threaded through thebottom of the bearing member 9 and operating against the lower end ofthe shaft or pivot member 11 whereby the turntable may be raised orlowered with respect to the truck, as desired.

The turntable is provided with power-actuated means comprising the wormgear 15 and the large gear 16, and for the sake of simplicity inillustration the worm gear 15 is shown operated by a hand wheel 17,although it should be understood that it may be operated by means of anydesired mechanism. As shown in Fig. 4 the 1worm gear 15 is connected toa shaft 13 which is suitably journaled in an upstanding arm or bearing14 on the truck and having at one end a worm wheel 15 which meshes withgear ,teeth 16 on the periphery of the turntable 10, and having at itsother end a suitable hand wheel 17 (as shown in Figs. l and 4) by whichthe shaft may be conveniently rotated by an operator or attendantstanding at the side of the machine.

A pair of open, preferably rectangular, frames D arerigidly mounted uponthe turntable 10 in any suitable manner. These frames are parallel andare spaced apart. The upper and lower bars or members D1, D2respectively, of each of these frames, are parallel and are adapted toform guides or tracks for a pair of sliding standards 19 and 20,respectively. These sliding standards are suitably formed at their upperand lower ends to embrace the track bars D1 and D2 of the frames toprevent displacement of the standards in any direction except along thetrack members of the frame. These standards are rigidly connectedtogether at their bases by a platform member 2l so that they, inconjunction with the platform 21, constitute a sub-frame which may berigidly shifted horizontally in the main frames D, as above described,and by means of this arrangement the entire cutting mechanism may bebodily shifted to any position Within the limits of this shifting orsliding adjustment.

The shifting of this sub-frame and the mechanism supported thereby maybe accomplished in any suitable manner consistent with the conditionsand requirements. In the drawings there is shown power-operatingmechanism for this purpose. On the sub-frame platform 21 is mounted anelectric motor 22, the electric connections for which may be brought tothe motor in the usual manner and which need not be described. The motorshaft is supported in an outer bearing 23 and carries at its end apinion 24 which drives a larger spur gear 25, this spur gear beingmounted to drive a counter-shaft 26 supported in bearing standards 27.This countershaft carries a rotatable sleeve 28 which is provided with aworm gear 29 and which may be connected with or disconnected from thecounter-shaft 26 by any suitable clutch mechansm such, for instance, asis shown in the draw- It will be seen that the inner end 30 of thesleeve is provided with notches or teeth so as to' form one member of aclutch. The other member 31 of the clutch is mounted upon the shaft 26to rotate therewith and to slide longitudinally thereof, and this member31 may be thrown into or out of engagement with the clutch member 30 bythe hand-operated lever 32 pivoted at one end to the platform 21. Hence,by operating this hand lever the Worm wheel may be connected with theshaft' to be driven thereby or disconnected from said shaft at will.

The worm gear 29 meshes with and drives a worm gear 33 which is mountedupon a vertical shaft journaled in a bearing mounted upon the platform21. The shaft carries a horizontally disposed winding drum or capstan34, and as this capstan may be used as a means for shifting thesub-frame in the main frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and i4, a jack 35 maybe placed at a proper position in the mine entry and a rope or cable 36hooked thereto and run to the capstan or drum 34 so that by permittingthe cable to wind upon the drum the sub-frame may be shifted in the mainframe. Any suitable anchor may be used forthe end of the rope, but it ispreferred to use a jack 35, such as shown in Fig. 4, because it may beconveniently handled and moved about from place to place.

The upper portions of the standards 19 of the sub-frame carry a largeheavy bar or member 40 preferably of rectangular cross-section andarranged to slide or shift longitudinally in suitable bearing members 41of the sub-frame standards. This bar is preferably of considerablelength so that it will have quite a long range of movement. It will benoted that the line of movement of this bar 40 is disposed at rightangles or transversely to the line of bodily movement of bar or member40 is provided with a series of gear teeth 42 thereby constituting arack bar. A driving pinion 43 meshes with these rack teeth for impartinglongitudinal movement to the shifting bar 40, and the pinion 43 ismounted upon a shaft 44 which is journaled in bearings 45 depending fromone of the rack bar bearings 41.

One end of the shaft 44 carries a large worm wheel 46 which meshes withand is driven by a worm gear 47 similar to the worm gear 29, and whichis carried upon a rotatable sleeve 48 on shaft 26 similar to the sleeve28. This sleeve 48, like sleeve 28, forms one member of a clutch, theother member 49 of which is rotatable with shaft 26 -but slidablethereon, and this clutch member 49 is adapted to be shifted into and outof engagement with the sleeve 48 and by the hand lever 50. Thus themovement of the shifting rack bar` 40 may be controlled at will, and byreason of the worm gearing just described the rack bar will remainlocked in any position to which it is moved. without the necessity ofadditional locking means. Y

At one end of this rack bar 40 is provided an arm or member 51 which isdisposed downwardly for a portion of its length and then turnedhorizontally into substantial parallel relation with the longitudinalaxis of the rack bar 40. The longitudinally disposed portion of thisdepending arm forms a pivot member or stud 52 upon which a forkedsupport E is rotatably mounted. By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will benoted that the forked member E has a centrally disposed bearing portionor stem E1 which is rotatable upon the pivot member 52, and it may beheld in place upon this pivot member by means of an annular shoulder 53on the arm 51 and a removable cap 54 which is fastened to the end of thestud member 52 by means of a screw or bolt 55. Thus by this constructionthe forked support E is capable of rotary movement upon an axis which issubstantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of movement of therack bar 40, such axis being substantially transverse to the verticalaxis of rotation of the turntable upon which the machine is mounted.

For the purpose of rotating this forked support E about its axes in aconvenient manner, there is provided a worm wheel 56 on the bearingportion E1 of the support E and this worm wheel is driven by a worm 57which is mounted upon a shaft 58 supported in a suitable bearing 59outstanding from the end of the rack bar 49. The shaft 58 has a handwheel 60 by which it may be conveniently actuated by the operator toadjust the position of the support E. It will be noted that by reason oftheworin gear arrangement the support E will be automatically locked inany position to which it is rotated without the need of additionallocking mechanism.

An electric motor F is rotatably supported in this forked support E. Inthe drawings, there is shown a pair of brackets 61 bolted to the motorcasing F on diametrically opposite sides thereof, and these bracketscarry outstanding trunnion members 62 arranged in alinement and suitablyjournaled-in the outer or free ends of the arm members E2 of the supportmember E so that the motor may be rotated about an axis which, as willbe noted. is disposed substantially at right angles to the axis ofrotation of the trunnion members 62.

It will be noted that the arms E2 of the support E are curved as shownin elevation in Fig. 1

so that the trunnion axis of rotation of the motor` at 62 is offset to aconsiderable extent with respect to the axis of rotation of the supportE at 52. This construction is of advantage in that it will enable thecutting mechanism to operate through a greater range than otherwise.

One of the brackets 6l carries a rigid segmental worm gear 63 whichmeshes with and is driven by a worm 64. The worm is mounted upon a smallshaft 65 which is carried in a journal bearing 66 extending from one ofthe arms E2 of the support E, and the shaft 65 also carries a hand wheel67 by which it may be manipulated to rotate the motor F about its axis62. The worm gearing 63, 64 as in the other cases heretofore mentioned,makes it possible to eliminate special locking means for holding themotor in any position in which it is rotated.

The cutting mechanism or cutter bar A is carried by a frame or casingmember which is rotated on an axis transverse or at right angles to theaxis 62 of rotation of the motor, whereby the cutting mechanism may berotated in the plane of itself through a considerable range and thuspermit a much wider cut or kerf to be made than if the cutting mechanismwere fixed with respect to the motor which drives it. As shown in thedrawings, the frame or casing 70 has an internal peripheral groove '11formed at its edge and this groove fits an annular flange 72 on themotor casing so that a bearing is provided upon which the casing 70 mayrotate. A removable flange or cap ring '73 is bolted to the casing 70 topermit the parts to be readily disassembled. This casing, together withthe motor casing, as will be noticed, forms a complete enclosure for thevarious gears and operating parts contained therein, leaving none ofthese operating parts exposed to the grit and dust which necessarilyresults from the cutting operation.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, it is to be understoodthat F1 represents the field magnets of any standard or suitable motor,and F2 the armature thereof, the armature being mounted upon the motorshaft F3 and journaled in ball-bearings F4 .in the head or end of themotor casing F. The motor shaft F3 projects beyond the bearing andcarries a spur pinion 75 which drives a larger spur gear 76 carried by ashaft 77, the shaft having its bearings 78 in a bracket preferablyformed integrally with the casing 70. This shaft also carries a spurpinion 79 which drives the large spur gear 80, which latter gear ismounted upon and adapted to drive a shaft 81 journaled in the frame orcasing 70. The purpose of operating this train of gears thus describedis to reduce the relative speed of the shaft 81.

The shaft 81, as will be noticed, is lined up with the motor shaft F3and carries at its outer end a sprocket 82 around which the cutter chaintravels and by which said cutter chain is driven, as will be hereinafterdescribed. The inner end of the shaft 81 carries a beveled gear 83 whichis adapted to drive two small radially disposed shafts 84 and 85 throughthe medium of two small beveled pinions 86 which are carried by theshafts 84 and 85 and which mesh with the beveled gear 83. The other endsof the shafts 84 and 85 carry beveled pinions 87 and 88 respectively,which are mounted upon sleeves so that the gears may rotate with respectto their shafts. These sleeves are notched at their ends 89, 90 to formclutch members and are arranged to be connected with their shafts forrotation therewith by means of sliding clutch members 91 and 92,respectively.

The beveled gears 87 and 88 mesh with corresponding beveled gears 93 and94 carried at opposite ends of a shaft upon which the worm gear 95 ismounted, the shaft which carries this worm gear being suitably journaledin bearings in the casing 70. This worm gear 95 meshes with an annularseries origear teeth 96 formed upon the motor casing F.

Hence by driving the worm gear 95 in either direction the casing 70 maybe rotated relatively to the motor on an axis 81 which in this case isco-incident with the axis of rotation of the motor shaft, and since thecutter bar A is mounted upon this casing 70 the cutter bar will be givena bodily rotation about said axis 81. Thus by rea.- son of thisconstruction the cutter bar of the cutting mechanism may be rotated inthe plane of itself while the cutter chain is traveling around thecutter bar. By simply shifting one or the other of the clutch members 84and 85 it is obvious, of course, that the gear 87 or gear 88 may bethrown into or out of operation to drive the worm gear 96 in whicheverdirection is desired.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a device by which either of these clutchmembers may be shifted from either of two different points. There isprovided a rigid lever which is centrally pivoted at 97 to the casing 70and which has two bent arms which are connected to the clutch members 91and 92. These bent arms project through openings 99 in the casing orframe 70 in position to be actuated by an operator for controlling theclutches. The advantage of providing two points of control for either ofthese clutches lies in the fact that in case one of the arms 98 is notin convenient position for the operator to manipulate, the other armwill be.

One of the edges of each of the openings 99 in the casing 70 has threedepressions 100 (see Fig. 7) corresponding to the differentpositions towhich the respective arm is shifted, and the arms are each provided witha slight enlargement 101 adapted to enter these notches or depressionsin the edges of the casing and hold the arms in the positions to whichthey are shifted, the arms being made to spring slightly so that theywill be held in the notches by the tension thereon.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 3 and 6, the details ofthe cutting mechanism or cutter bar A will now be described. This cutterbar has a flat elongated frame 105 around the edge or periphery of whichthe cutter chain travels. The cutter frame 105, as will be noticed, liesin substantially the plane of the sprocket 82 so that the sprocket andframe will be properly lined up to accommodate the chain. The end of thecutter frame 105 nearest the sprocket 82 has an offset tailpiece orextension 106 which is disposed substantially parallel with the frameitself but is adapted to slide in the guideway 107 formed in the frameor casing '70, this tailpiece or extension being provided with a slot108 for the accommodation of the bearing portion or journal 109 for theshaft 81; the purpose of this construction being to allow the frame 105to be adjusted longitudinally in either direction relatively to thesprocket 82, for the purpose of tightening or loosening the cutter chainor for the purpose of shortening or lengthening this chain, as will behereinafter described.

The journal or bearing portion 109 of the frame 70 carries a headed boltor screw 110, the head 111 of which is positioned in a slot in the hubportion 109 so as to prevent movement of the bolt in either direction.This bolt extends through an opening in the end 112 of the tailpiece 106and is provided with two nuts 113, the purpose of the bolt and nut beingto hold the cutter frame 105 in any position to which it islongitudinally shifted.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 3a it will be seen that thecutter chain is composed of a plurality of middle or center links 115and a plurality of intermediate side links 116. The middle or centerlinks 115 are preferably provided with removable cutting knives orcutters 117, and are adapted to slide along the peripheral edge 118 ofthe cutter frame. The side links 116 project beyond the middle of centerlinks so as to form, in a sense, a continuous channel on the inside ofthe chain, and the cutter frame has shoulders 119 formed near its edgeto accommodate the side links 116. In this manner the chain is, in asense, interlocked with the cutter frame 105 and may travel around theedge of said cutter frame without danger of being displaced laterally.It will be noted that the faces of the cutter frame 105 aresubstantially flush with the outer faces of the side links 116 so as toprovide a structure of uniform thickness capable of entering the kerfs.Of course the cutting knives 117 on the chain are slightly wider thanthe thickness of the frame and chain. It is found desirable to allow thecutter chain to travel around the outer end of the cutter frame, thisbeing a sufcient support for the chain without adding any unduefriction, but, if desired, a sprocket wheel 120 may be provided at theouter end of the cutter frame, as shown in Figs. 3 and 3a.

In Figs. 8, 9, and l1, there is illustrated a modification of thepresent improved machine wherein has been eliminated the motor F whichis positioned in the forked support E in Fig. 2, and gearing has beensubstituted therefor, which gearing is driven by the motor 22 mountedupon the sub-frame. This arrangement enables one motor of a largercapacity to be used for the purpose of driving and actuating a cuttingmechanism and also for bodily shifting the parts.

The shaft of the motor 22 carries a pinion 125 which drives a large gear126 mounted upon a suitable shaft which is supported in the bearingstandards 127 on the sub-frame platform 21. This large gear 126 in turnmeshes with and drives one of two inter-meshing gears 128 of equal size.these gears 128 being mounted on separate parallel shafts 129 and 130which are supported in suitable bearings 131 on the platform 21. Theseshafts also carry worms 132 and 133 which drive two large worm gears 134and 135, respectively, mounted to rotate upon the shaft 44 which carriesthe pinion 43 for shifting the rack bar 40, the shaft 44 being supportedin suitable bearings which are altered in accordance with the changes ofconstruction in this modification.

The gears 128 rotate in opposite directions and in consequence drive thelarge worm wheels 134 and 135 in opposite directions, these gears beingfree to rotate upon the shaft 44. Between the two gears 134 and 135 isprovided a shiftable clutch member 136 which may be shifted on the shaftin either direction in the usual manner to connect one or the other ofthe gears 134 and 135 with the shaft 44 to drive said shaft in eitherdirection and thereby reciprocate or shift the rack bar in eitherdirection without reversing the motor.

The shaft 140 upon which the large gear 126 is mounted, is preferably ofsubstantially the length of the shifting or reciprocating rack bar 40and parallel therewith. This shaft is arranged so that it will slidelongitudinally with respect to its bearings and the gear 126 inaccordance with the movement of the rack bar. It is preferably squaredor otherwise formed, however, so that it will be rotated by the gear 126at any position into which it is shifted. This shaft 140, which is roundat its right-hand end, extends through a bearing formed in thehorizontal or pivot portion 52 of the depending arm 51 and projects intothe space between the two arms or parts E2 of the rotary forked supportE, and carries a beveled pinion 141 on this projecting end. It alsocarries a collar 142 which takes the place of the cap member 54 of Fig.l to prevent the support E from being displaced with respect to thepivot portion 52 but to allow it to be rotated about its axis in thesame manner and preferably by similar hand-operated means to that shownin Figs. 1 and 2. The beveled pinion 141 meshes with and drives a largerbeveled gear 143 which is rotatably mounted upon a fixed shaft 144, thelongitudinal axis of which lies at right angles to the axis of rotationof the rotary support E' in the same manner that the axis of rotation ofthe motor F of g. 1 bears with respect to said axis 52.

This shaft 144 has its bearings 145 in the ends of the arms E2. Betweenthe beveled gear 143 and one of the journals 145 is an arm 146'havingits hub 147 pivotally mounted upon the shaft 144 so that the arm may beswung or rotated about the axis of the shaft 144. This arm 146 and itsmanner of mounting may be said to correspond to the motor F (Fig. 1)insofar as the movements thereof are concerned. The outer end of thispivoted arm 146 has ya bearing 148 and a large head or flange 149 whichmay be said to correspond to the flange 72 of the construction shown inFigs. 5 and 6.

The casing is mounted to rotate upon the flange or head 149 in the samemanner as in the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and the details ofthis casing and its cutter mechanism carried thereby are similar to theconstruction previously described and the descriptions thereof need notbe repeated. The shaft 81 which carries the cutter chain sprocket 82' issimilar to the corresponding shaft of Figs. 5 and 6 except that it isnot driven from a series of reducing gears within the casing '70 butinstead it passes directly through the head 149 and is journaled in thebearing 148. On its inner end it carries a beveled pinion 150 whichmeshes with and is driven by the large beveled gear 143 and in this wayreceives its motion direct from the main motor 22 on the sub-frameplatform 21.

The arrangement of the beveled gears 141, 143 and 150 thus permits thecutter chain shaft 81' to be rotated, regardless of the angle orposition in which the arm 146 is rotated about its axis. A hand Wheel 67and worm and segmental worm gear 64 and 63 respectively, of theconstruction shown in the preceding figures for rotating or positioningthe arm 146, is employed except that the segmental gear in this case ismounted upon the hub 147 of the arm 146. The operation of the mechanismfor rotating the casing 70 and the cutter mechanism about its axis isidentical in principle and the arrangement of the parts to theconstruction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, except that worm and spiral gearingis employed on the shafts 8l', 84' and 85' instead of the beveled gears83, 86, 87, 88, 93 and 94. The annular series of gear teeth 96, withwhich the worm gear 95 meshes, is mounted on the face of the head of theange member 149; this gearing is self -locking.

It has been previously mentioned that the above described apparatus ormachine is capable of and adapted to cut the various kerfs at theirvarious angles in order to carry out the improved method of mining abovedescribed. In Fig. 14 is diagrammatically illustrated the manner inwhich the machine may be manipulated to produce the horizontal kerfs X19of Fig. 24 or the vertical kerfs X of Fig. l2 heretofore described. Whenit is desired to cut a vertical kerf in the vein of coal the cutter barA, by reason of its numerous adjustments, may be positioned so that itwill lie in a vertical plane. Since the height of the vein of coal isgenerally considerably greater than the width of the cutter bar, it ispreferred to start the kerf by positioning the cutter bar so that itlies in a vertical plane but inclined upwardly at such an angle that itsouter end coincides with the roof of the entry or the upper line ofcleavage. A

The cutter bar is diagrammatcally illustrated in Fig. 14 by the dottedlines Y. The outer end of the cutter bar in this position is presentedto the end of the face of the Wall or end of the vein into which it isto operate and the cutter mechanism advances into the vein in thedirection of the arrow Y1, while in its angularly adjusted position. Theadvancement of the cutting mechanism is preferably accomplished byshifting the rack bar 40. as previously described. The advancement inthis direction is continued until the cutter bar has entered the vein tothe required depth or distance, and since its chain is traveling duringthis advancement it cuts along the upper line of cleavage.

When it has reached the limit of its advancement the cutter bar may beswung or rotated downwardly in the direction of the arrow Y2 but stillin the plane of itself until its outer end reaches the lower line ofcleavage, whereupon with a suitable cutting speed, it may be withdrawnfrom the vein while in this last-mentioned adjusted position, thedirection of withdrawal being that indicated by the arrow Y3. In otherwords, to cut a vertical kerf of greater height than the width of thecutter mechanism, the cutter mechanism may be moved in three or moredirections all in the same plane. It will be observed vthat a miningmachine construction is provided wherein the cutting mechanism isuniversally movable or adjustable; that is to say, it may be placed inany position at any angle at which it is desired to cut a kerf.

It should also be understood that when the trunnion arms E2 are in theposition shown in full lines in Fig. l, the casing may be swung on thetrunnions 62 by operating the wheel 67. In this way, the cuttingmechanism or cutter bar A may be swung around so as to occupy a positionin a horizontal plane at or near the floor of the mine. After the cutterbarhas been brought to this position in the horizontal plane, it may beswung on its pivotal connection with the casing '70 by operating theelectric motor within the cas ing F. Power may be transmitted from thismotor to swing the cutter bar in one direction or the other on itspivotal connection with the casing 70 by operating the lever 98 at oneside or the other of the casing 70, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is also evident that the feeding mechanism for moving the ti'unnionarms E2 operates independently of the mechanism for controlling thelateral swinging movements of the cutter bar A. By throwing in theclutch 49, the electric motor 22 may be connected to the feed mechanismat will, and by reversing the electric motor the feed mechanism may bereciprocated whenever desired. Obviously, therefore, the cutter bar A,while occupying a horizontal position, may be swung at an angle and thenmoved bodily `forward by the feed mechanism while the cutter chain is inoperation, thereby producing a cut in the mine wall. Furthermore, afterthis cut has been produced to the required depth, the cutter bar may beswung laterally while the cutter chain is operating, and at the sametime the rear por* tion of the cutter bar may be retracted until thecutter bar occupies a position substantially at right angles to the bodyof the truck on which the mining machine is mounted. Upon continued/swinging movement of the cutter bar, the feed mechanism may be reversedso that the rear portion of the cutter barwill be fed forward duringcontinued operation. By means of this operation, the forward portion ofthe cutter bartravels over a path which is approximately a straightline.

After the cutter bar has been swung in the opposite direction as far asdesired, the swinging movement may be discontinued, and, while thecutter bar still occupies the position at an angle to its pivotalconnection to the casing 70, the mo tor 22 may be reversed so as tocause the feeding mechanism to be drawn back while the cutter bar isstill operating. It will thus be seen that a square or rectangular cutcan be produced in the mine wall. each side of which is approximatelyastraight line, as well as the base of the cut. The forward end of thecutter bar, during the swinging movement, tends to move over an arc of acircle determined by the angle of the swing, but the reciprocation ofthe pivot of the cutter bar causes a resultant movement of the outer endof the cutter bar along the chord of such arc of a circle.

The cut at or near the floor of the mine has been referred to merely byway of illustration, and it should be understood that a similar cut canbe made at or near the roof of the mine and also at each side wall ofthe mine, or even at any angle to such cuts, with the exception thatwhenever such cuts are produced each must be in a plane parallel to theline of the path of travel of the feed bar 40, so as to prevent bindingof the cutter bar in the out.

It should be noted that the mining apparatus above described and shownin the drawings is track mounted and when the rails are extended up to aposition near the facs of the mine wall the l mining apparatus may beswung around by the turntable mechanism to a position where the cutter Bmay cut a horizontal kerf extending across the front of the miningapparatus from one side of the track to the other. The truck frame 8constitutes a rigid base frame having supporting wheels which rest uponand are braced by the track, as shown in Fig. l.

The base frame carries a laterally movable cut ter arm which extendsfrom the base frame in elevated horizontal planes above the other partsof the apparatus. When the frame E is swung to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. l, the kerf -cutter may easily be swung to horizontalposition in a plane elevated with respect to the other parts of theapparatus. There may be a plurality of such elevated horizontal planesbecause the screw/threaded bolt 12 may be used to lift and lower theframe D on the truck frame 8. When the kerf-cutter is in such horizontalplanes its plane.

endless cutter chain is movable along the cutter arm in a pathhorizontal throughout. Furthermore, when the korf-cutter is in itshighest position, the motor F is a chain driving motor positioned belowthe cutter arm and xedly connected thereto to move bodily therewithwhenever the adjusting mechanism 63, 64, is operated. Also. when thekerf-cutter is in its uppermost position the power transmission betweenthe kericutterand the motor constitutes power-actuated means below thearm or frame of the chain cutter for causing such arm and the chaincutter to move laterally to cut a horizontal kerf in the elevated planeextending transversely from one side to the other of the track.

Although the track mounted mining apparatus cuts a horizontal kerfextending across its front from one side of the track to the other, thesup-V porting wheels l which rest upon the track are braced by the trackby means of the tendency of the feed to twist the frame. Thevflanges ofthe wheels however', resist this twisting tendency and therefore thefeeding operation can be effected. Of course the kerf -cutter B may bemoved to a horizontal position from its full line position shown in Fig.1 so as to occupy its lowermost But whether the kerf-cutter is in arelatively low cutting plane or in a relatively high plane, the screwmember 12 constitutes means for adjusting the cutter arm vertically inparallelism, and such screw member 12 in combination with the gearingmechanism 63, 64, 56, 57. constitutes means for bodily adjusting thecutter arm vertically in parallelism to move the cutter chain from oneset of relatively low cutting planes to another set of relative highcutting planes.

It is alsol obvious that the power-actuated means shown in Figs. 5 and 6is constructed and arranged to cause the arm and the chain to movelaterally to cut a horizontal kerf at any one of several elevations andextending transversely from one side to the other of the track. When thekorf-cutter is in its uppermost horizontal plane or in its lowermosthorizontal plane the screw member 12 may be relied upon for verticallyadjusting the motor and the cutting mechanism in horizontal parallelismand to hold it either where it will form a. kerf in relatively lowhorizontal planes or where it will form a kerf in other horizontalplanes relatively higher than those aforesaid. In other words, the screwmember l2 constitutes means for adjusting the motor and the cutter framevertically for the forming of horizontal kerfs in either of severaldifferent. horizontal planes. The forward feed of the mining machinealong the track to new positions may be effected by the power drivenreel shown at 34 in Fig. 4, this reel being then movable horizontallywith the cutter frame. The cable 36 when anchored, as shown in Fig. 4,and connected to the reel, is adapted to cause the forward movement,bodily, of the cutting apparatus.

It should also be observed that the mining machine illustrated in thedrawings may make horizontal kerfs X19 (Fig. 24) intermediate the floorand roof as well as horizontal kerfs at the oor of the mine chamber andhorizontal kerfs at the roof of the mine chamber while being moved alongthe track in a long wall mining operation, the parts being arranged asshown in Fig. 1 to produce the kerfs X19 of Fig. 24, except that thecutter bar A occupies a horizontal position. When the intermediate kerfXwof Fig. 24 is desired, the frame is moved to an upside down positionby means of the wheel 67 and the gearing connected thereto and whilethis is being done the cutterframe 105 may be swung on the axis 81 sothat when the said upside down position is reached the cutter will stillextend outwardly from the machine and occupy a position intermediate thefloor and roof where it can cut the kerf X19 of Fig. 24 intermediate theoor and roof. In this position, as well as at the floor and at the roof,long wall operations may be carried on or the operation illustrated inFig. 14 may be carried out in a horizontal plane. Such operations asthose illustrated in Fig. 14 may be carried out on either side of themine track or in advance thereof.

It should also be understood that when the modifications shown in Figs.8 to 11, inclusive, are substituted for the motor F and its connectionsin Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, a self -contained mining machine results becausethe operations illustrated in Fig. 14 may be carried out without anyextraneous anchorage connections.

If the framework of the machine be jacked in stationary position bymeans of roof jacks in a well-known manner, the rope-winding mechanismmay pull the rope 36 while the free end thereof is hooked to the roofjack 35 as shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the cutter may be fedrectilinearly along the frame D by sliding the frame 19 along the ways Dand D2 in a long wall operation.

In a similar manner the cutter A may be located lat on the floor inadvance of the mine track and the bar 40 fed forward to feed the cutterinto the mine vein to produce a straight line sumping cut. A out maythen be made transversely of the longitudinal length of the mine trackby using the roof jack 36 and the mechanism connected thereto. Then byadjusting the cutter bar and retracting the rack bar 40 a withdrawal cutmay be made. In this manner a straight line cut may be eiected at theinner end of the kerf produced in the mine wall. In the same manner akerf may be produced at the rooi and intermediate the oor and the roof,both with straight inner walls at right angles to the longitudinallength of the mine track.

Kerfs may also be made spaced back from the face of a long wall byadjusting the plane of the kerf-cutter to a vertical plane. The machinemay also be operated by making vertical kerfs at right angles to theface of the mine wall in which horizontal kerfs and kerfs spaced back'from the mine wall have already been produced, thereby cutting outlarge blocks of material from the wall each in its entirety.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the turntable 10 and theframework mounted thereon constitutes a body which is turnablehorizontally by means of the wheel 17 and the gearing operated thereby.The tool support E is rotatable on the horizontal axis of thecylindrical bearing 52. Such rotation may be effected by the wheel 60which drives the worm gearing 56, 57. It should also be noted that theaxis of rotation of the support E on the bearing 52 constitutes an axialline for the rotatable support E. By referring to Figs. 8 and 9 it willbe seen that certain members support the cutting tool on the rotatablesupport E for movement toward and from the axial line of support. I'hewheel 67 and the gearing 63, 64 actuated thereby constitute means on therotatable support for actuating the supporting members for moving thetool toward and from the axial line of the rotary support.

The motor 22 being mounted on the platform 21 is connected to meanscomprising the shaft 140 extending along the axis of the rotatablesupport E for actuating the cutting tool. That is to say, the motor 22being connected to the shaft 140 to rotate the latter and this shaftbeing connected to the sprocket wheel 82', the motor 22 may be mountedon the platform 21 or on the supporting framework and the drivingconnections relied on to operate the cutting tool, including swingingfeeding movement thereof. After the adjustments have been made by thewheels 60 and 67, the motor 22 may be started to drive the chain of thechain-cutter and then one of the levers 98 shown in Fig. 10 may beactuated to throw in either of the clutches 91, 92 to effect swingingfeeding movement of the cutter on the axis of the shaft 81. Therefore,in the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the adjustments,operations and controls are the same in Figs. l, 5 and 6, but instead ofhaving two motors 22 and F as shown in Fig. 1, only one motor is used inFigs. 8 to 11, inclusive, namely, that designated 22 on the frame 21,the driving connections between this motor 22 and the cutting tool beingsuch as to enable the elimination of the motor F of Fig. 1.

In the structure shown in Fig. 1, the motor F is carried by therotatable support E, but in both the form shown in Fig. 1 and in theform shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the control of swinging feedingmovement by means of the clutches 91 and 92 is such that when the cutteris parallel to the axial line of the rotatable support E, the cutter maybe swung to cut a kerf in a plane parallel to such axial line.

When the turntable 10 is swung by means of the wheel 17 to a positionwhere the axial line of the rotatable support E is parallel to the minetrack with the cutter at on the floor in advance of the mine track, thecutter may be adjusted at an angle so that when the whole machine ismoved along the mine track by means of the rope-winding mechanism shownin Fig. 2 while the free end of the rope 36 is anchored to the coalface, a rectangular sumping cut may be made at the base of the minevein. If the framework of the machine is held stationary by means of theroof jacks, the rack bar 42 may be operated to effect a similarrectilinear feeding movement. After such sumping cut has been made, thecutter may be swung on the axis of the shaft 81 or 81 so as to secure anarcuate cut, as illustrated in Fig. 14 by the arrow Y2, considering thisview as a plan view. After such swinging feeding movement is effected, awithdrawal cut may be made, as indicated by the arrow Y3, either by therope-winding mechanism shown in Fig. 4 or by retracting the bar 40, asabove explained. Similar operations may be carried lon at the roof andalso intermediate the vfloor and roof.

Whether operating at the floor or at the roof or intermediate the floorand roof, to secure one of the horizontal kerfs shown in Fig. 24,accuracy of adjustment in elevation of the cutter-bar may be obtained bymeans of the elevating screw 12 shown in Fig. 1 which may be designed tohave sufficient power to lift the framework of the mavent the same fromrunning out of mesh with the worm 15 shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

It should be particularly noted that the worm gearing illustrated in theaccompanying drawings is all of the automatic locking type. Such lockingworm gearing is particularly useful in connection with the holding ofthe cutter-bar at an adjusted angle while being fed rectilinearlyparallel to the mine track for either the making of a sumping cut or forthe making of a withdrawal cut, and during such sumping and withdrawalcuts the worm gearing 15, 16 automatically locks the turntable againstswinging movement relatively to the truck.

When the shaft 81 or 81' occupies a vertical position, the gearing l5,16 constitutes means for shifting the vertical axis 81 or 81' laterallyrelatively to the main frame while maintaining this axis upright. Theworm gearing 15, 16 being of the locking type holds the cutting elementrigid relative to the main frame in its various positions to which it isshifted laterally. The worm gearing 95, 96 is also of the locking typeso that the cutter-bar will also be held rigid when the clutches 91, 92are released.

The connections between the bar 40 and the cutting tool constitute anoverhanging arm when the cutter is parallel to the floor and adjacentthereto. It often occurs in coal mines that the entries are narrow andtherefore it may be desirable to produce a sumping cut with the cuttersubstantially at the floor while the overhanging arm supports the cutterbar so that the rear end thereof will be between the mine wall or riband the ends of the ties of the track. In this narrow space the cuttermay be located and adjusted to extend forward for a rectilinear cut incontinuation of the lateral walls of the entry. Thus a kerf may be made,the lower surface of which will be in continuation of the floor on whichthe track is laid and the kerf cut will have its lower surface below theupper surface of the rails of the mine track. Such kerfs may be cut onboth sides of the mine track and connected by a kerf in advance thereof,thus completing a continuous kerf extending across the area in front ofthe mine track.

By means of the screw 12 the cutter bar may be elevated sufficiently toclear the rails `of the mine track during transportation.

It should also be noted that by connecting an electric motor to thewheel 17 or substituting such motor for such wheel and positioning thekerfcutter at the floor, a kerf may be cut in advance of the truckthrough an arc of 180 on a radius extending from the center of theturntable to the outer end of the cutter-bar. Such a radius may be stillfurther increased by extending outwardly the rack bar 40 and holding itlocked in adjusted position by the worm gearing 46, 47 shown in Fig. 1.Very wide entries of varying widths may thus be advanced by miningoperationsl including kerfn cutting followed by shooting down the coalin the usual manner leaving straight ribs on both sides of the entry. Inmaking all such arcuate cuts through 180 the full effective length ofthe cutter-bar is employed.

It is also important to note that in advancing all entries of relativelynarrow widths, the full effective length of the cutter-bar is used andconsequently a rapid advance of the entries is always maintained. Thismay be understood by reference to Fig. 14 considered as a plan view.When advancing entries of intermediate widths, the turntable mechanismmay be employed to secure the arcuate feed between the rectilinearsumping and withdrawal cuts, but when relatively narrow entries are tobe advanced, it is preferred to adjust the bar 40 to a longitudinallycentral position and rely on the feed of the cutter on the axis 81 or 8lto secure the arcuate cuts. Whenever the cutter-bar is fedrectilinearly, either for sumping or withdrawing, it is locked at anacute angle. Then when the chain cutter is fed into the face of the minevein, it is presented edgewise to the coal and projected into the latterto its full depth which is taken advantage of in making the arcuate cut.Therefore, for all arcuate cuts, whether the kerfcutter is fed through180 for the widest entries or is fed arcuately through lesser anglesbetween the rectilinear cuts, the arcuate feed is obtained while thekerf-cutter is extended into the coal to its full effective length. Thedistance the entry is advanced by blasting after each cut is thereforesubstantially the same for the entries of various widths from the widestto the narrowest and for all entries the rib cuts as illustrated at X1and X2 in Fig. 14 are along straight lines to facilitate the productionof straight walls at the sides of the entries.

While the foregoing refers to mining operations to extend entries inadvance of the truck or in advance of the mine track, the methodillustrated in Figs. 17 to 24 inclusive, is used in a long wall systemof mining, the upright or shearing cuts X being made as illustrated inFig. 14. By swinging the cutter-bar toward or from the axial line of theneck it may` be positioned for the making of the slanting kerfs X3 andX3' and the cutter may be fed rectilinearly by increment by sliding thesub-frame 21 along the main frame D while the end of the rope isanchored at 35 and the truck is jacked in stationary position on themine track. It should be observed that the rope 36 may be anchored tothe truck frame 8 for this operation, and therefore when the frame 21 isfed along the frame D, the machine is entirely self-contained. Themachine is also entirely self-contained when operating to produce kerfsin advance of the truck and in advance of the mine track as aboveexplained.

The kerfs X3 and X3 along the mine wall may also be produced by movingthe whole machine along the mine track after the position of thekerf-cutter has been adjusted by swinging the same toward or from theaxial line of the neck.

In view of the foregoing explanation it is obvious that the greatflexibility of the machine illustrated enables a single kerf-cutter toperform arc wall operations at the oor, at the roof and intermediate theoor and roof by producing horizontal kerfs; also arc wall operations inupright or shearing positions; and furthermore, the same machine may beused to carry out either long wall operations or breast operations torapidly advance entries of varying widths while the full length of thecutter is always employed for the arc wall feeding movements.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and itis therefore desired not to be restricted to the precise constructionherein disclosed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of the invention, what isdesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The method of mining coal which consists in making long wall cuts inthe face of the mine vein by means of kerfs in intersecting planes, andcutting upright spaced-apart kerfs to effect the dislodgment of the coalin large blocks.

2. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting slanting kerfs inthe face of a mine vein some extending upwardly and others downwardlyand all started from the face of the mine vein intermediate the floorand the roof and all extending rectilinearly along the face of the minevein in intersecting planes.

3. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting along the face ofa mine vein a rec` tangular kerf slanting upwardly toward the roof,dislodging the cut coal and following such dislodgment with the cuttingof a slanting rectangular kerf in the mine vein extending downwardlytoward the floor and dislodging the coal below such downwardly slantingkerf.

4. The method of mining coalwhich consists in cutting along the face ofa mine vein rectangular kerfs slanting .downwardly and upwardly inintersecting planes, dislodging the coal between such kerfs andfollowing such dislodgment with the cutting of additional rectangularkerfs slanting upwardly and downwardly in diverging planes anddislodging the coal above and below such additional kerfs.

5. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting slantinginter'secting kerfs from the face of a mine Vein to completely cut outthe intermediate section of the coal between the floor and the roof andfollowing such cutting out of the coal with` the production of kerfsslanting upwardly and downwardly in diverging directions toward the roofand floor and dislodging the coal above and below such diverging kerfs.

6. The method of mining which consists in cutting plane kerfs inslanting directions relative to the floor level, and producingspaced-apart upright kerfs by rectilinear and arc wall feedingmovements.

7. The method of mining which consists in making longwall cuts in theface of the mine vein to produce kerfs all spaced from the floor androof of the mine chamber and located in intersecting planes, and theneiecting dislodgment of the cut material from the mine vein.

8. 'Ihe method of mining coal which consists in cutting slanting kerfsin the face of a. mine vein some extending upwardly and othersdownwardly, said kerfs extending into the mine vein from the facethereof intermediate the floor and the roof and continued along the faceof the mine vein in intersecting planes by longwall operations.

9. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting kerfs in the faceof the mine vein in intersecting planes extending into the vein from theface thereof and lengthening said kerfs by continuous and uninterruptedcutting operations lengthwise of said mine vein face.

10. The method of mining which consists in cutting along the face of amine vein a kerf slanting upwardly to the plane of the roof of the minechamber, dislodging the cut material from the mine vein, and followingsuch dislodgment with the cutting of a kerf slanting downwardly to theplane of the floor of the mine chamber, and dislodging the material fromthe mine vein below such downwardly slanting kerf.

11. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting a pair ofintersecting kerfs along the face of a mine vein, dislodging the coalbetween said kerfs while some coal still remains at such face, andfollowing such dislodgment by the cutting of another pair ofintersecting kerfs along the remaining faceof coal, and then dislodgingthe coal above and below the last-named kerfs.

12. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting a pair ofintersecting plane kerfs along the face of a mine vein, dislodging thecoal between the kerfs, then cutting another pair of intersecting planekerfs along the remaining face, and dislodging the remainder of the cutcoal at the face.

13. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting a plane kerfalong the face of a mine vein in a longwall operation such kerfextending upwardly to the plane of the roof of the mine chamber anddislodging the coal onto the bottom wall of the kerf to cause suchbottom wall to act as an inclined plane to facilitate movement of thecoal from the unmined mass and forwardly into the mine chamber.

14. The method of mining which consists in forming a face slantingupwardly relative to the mine floor, and dislodging successivelysections of the mine vein below such slanting face.

15. The method of mining which consists in forming a face slantingupwardly relative to the mine floor, removing a section of the mine veinfrom the lower portion of such face, and then removing a section of themine vein from the upper portion of such face.

16. The method of mining which consists in forming an inclined face in aplane extending upwardly from the mine floor, dislodging a section ofthe mine vein from the lower portion of said face at the oor, and thendislodging a. section from the upper portion of said face up to the roofof the mine chamber.

17. The method of mining which consists in forming a face in a planeextending upwardly from the mine oor over and above the mine vein,cutting a kerf in the face of the mine vein in an inclined planeextending downwardly below and under the mine vein, and removing theportion of the mine vein below said last-named kerf.

18. The method of mining which consists in forming by a longwalloperation a slanting kerf in a plane extending upwardly from the minefloor and over and above the mine vein, and dislodging a portion of themine vein from such face to form a new face in a plane parallel to saidlrst-named face.

19. The method of mining which consists in cutting kerfs in a. mine veinsuccessively in intersecting planes and alternately extending upwardlyand downwardly, and dislodging a section of the mine vein after eachkerf has been cut.

20. The method of mining which consists in cutting kerfs in a mine veinalternately in intersecting planes and each extending to or near theplanes of the roof and iloor of the mine chamber, and removing sectionsof the mine vein alternately in accordance with the formation of thekerfs. n

21. The method of mining which consists in cutting by a longwalloperation a slanting kerf in a mine vein in a plane extending over andabove the mine vein, removing the section of the mine vein above suchkerf leaving a slanting face in such plane, cutting a kerf in such facein a plane intersection said first-named plane and extending under andbelow the mine vein, removing the section of the mine vein below saidsecond kerf, cutting a third kerf parallel to the first-named kerf, andremoving the section of the mine vein above said third kerf therebyleaving a slanting face parallel to said first-named face.

22. The method of miningwhich consists in cutting kerfs in a mine veinin intersecting planes, removing a section of the mine vein between saidkerfs, then cutting additional kerfs in intersecting planes, andremoving sections of the mine vein above and below said additionalkerfs.

23. The method of mining which consists in cutting kerfs in intersectingplanes which alternately converge and diverge relative to the workingface, and removing sections of the mine vein above and below such kerfs.

24. The method of mining which consists in cutting a pair of kerfs intothe face of a mine vein intermediate the iloor and roof of a minechamber and in intersecting planes converging from the working face tothe intersection, removing the mineral between said kerfs, then cuttinga pair of diverging kerfs from the working face intermediate the floorand roof toward the planes of such iloor and roof, and removing thesections of the mine vein above and below the second pair of kerfs.

25. The method of mining which consists in dislodging a section from amine vein by the cutting of a pair of converging kerfs in intersectingplanes, and effecting the dislodgment of additional sections of the minevein by the cutting of a pair of diverging kerfs.

26. The method of mining which consists in cutting pairs of convergingand diverging kerfs alternately into the mine vein intermediate thefloor and roof of the mine chamber, and electing dislodgment alternatelyof an intermediate section of the mine vein and sections at the door androof.

27. The method of mining which consists in cutting by a longwalloperation a kerf into the mine vein in a plane sloping upwardly relativeto the mine floor an extending over and above the mine vein, anddislodging the material to slide along such inclined face away from theunmined mass, then cutting another kerf also inclined upwardly relativeto the mine oor but at a higher elevation and dislodging the materialabout the last-named inclined face to slide along the latter away fromthe remaining unmined mass.

28. The method of mining which consists in cutting by a longwalloperation kerfs into a mine vein to form inclined faces in steppedrelation and dislodging the material to slide successively along saidinclined faces into the mine chamber away from the unmined mass.

29. The method of mining which consists in cutting pairs of kerfsintermediate the oor and roof of a mine chamber alternately in divergingand converging relation, and dislodging the material above and below andbetween such kerfs.

30. The method of mining which consists in cutting by a longwalloperation a kerf in a. relatively low position in a plane slantingupwardly relative to the floor and extending` over and above the minevein, dislodging some of the material above such kerf. then cuttinganother kerf in a relatively high position in a plane slanting upwardlyrelative to the floor and extending over and above the mine vein, anddislodging the remaining material above said second-named kerf.

31. The method of mining which consists in cutting a. kerf in arelatively low position in a plane slanting upwardly relative to theiloor ot the mine chamber` and extending over and above the mine vein,dislodging some of the material from the mine vein above such kerf toleave an inclined face in said plane, cutting another kerf in arelatively high position in a plane also inclined upwardly relative tosaid iloor and extending over and above the mine vein, and dislodgingthe material in the mine vein above the secondnamed kerf to slide firstover the lower face of the second-named kerf and then over the aforesaidinclined face into the mine chamber away from the unmined mass.

32. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting a plurality ofkerfs in a mine vein alternately slanting in intersecting planes, eachby a continuous longwall operation rectilinearly along the face of themine vein.

33. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting by onecontinuouslongwall operation a slanting kerf extending from the face ofthe mine vein intermediate the floor and the roof of the mine vein,dislodging the coal above such kerf, and by another continuous longwalloperation rectilinearly along the face of the mine vein cutting anotherslanting kerl in a plane intersecting the plane of the rst kerf cut.

34. The method of mining which consists in cutting into the upright faceof a mine vein by longwall operations a plurality of kerfs at differentelevations above the mine floor, and cutting a plurality of spaced-apartupright kerfs in such face, each upright kerf being produced in threesteps, rst by cutting a kerf rectilinearly into the upper portion of themine vein, second by cutting downwardly and arcuately in the same plane,and third by cutting outwardly rectilinearly from the mine vein for theformation of a parallel ribbed kerf4 extending between the upper andlower limits of the mine vein.

35. The method of mining which consists in dislodging successiveinclined portions of material presenting inclined faces extending inparallel planes and each sloping upwardly from the lower portion to theupper portion of the body of material to be removed.

36. The method of mining which consists in forming and removingsuccessive inclined portions of material presenting like inclined faceseach sloping downwardly and forwardly toward the base of miningoperations.

37. The method of mining which consists in forming and removingsuccessive portions of material alternately inclined upwardly anddownwardly relative to the horizontal and each successive portionfarther removed from the initial base of mining operations.

38. The method of mining which consists in dislodging by longwalloperations successive inclined elongated portions of material presentinginclined faces extending in parallel planes longitudinally of the minevein and each sloping upwardly.

39. The method of mining which consists in forming by longwalloperations successive inclined elongated portions of material presentinglike inclined faces each sloping downwardly and forwardly toward thebase of mining operations.

40. The method of mining which consists in forming by longwalloperations successive elongated portions of material with facesalternately inclined upwardly and downwardly relative to the horizontal,and alternating the removal of the upwardly and downwardly extendingelongated portions.

41. The method of mining which consists in cutting rectilinear planekerfs into the upright face of a mine vein in planes slanting relativeto the horizontal, and intersecting such kerfs with spaced-apart uprightkerfs to facilitate dislodgment of the kerf-cut material.

42. The method of mining which consists in cutting rectilinear planekerfs into the upright face of a mine vein by longwall operations inintersecting `planes each slanting relatiye to the horizontal, andintersecting such kerfs with spaced-apart upright kerfs to facilitatedislodgment of the kerf-cut material.

OLIVE EUGENIE MORGAN, Executrix, Estate of Edmund C. Morgan,

Deceased.

